pumpkin goodness!

it's been over a month since i blogged... i've been sick for a while and the last few days i'm finally feeling like my normal self. it's a good thing with thanksgiving coming up! i also hope to be back on track with regular updates to my blog - i know i've got a lot of new things to share.

in the spirit of thanksgiving, i'm starting my blog run with a fabulous dessert recipe. when i posted that i was making these layered pumpkin cheesecake cupcakes on facebook last night, i received a lot of responses including some requests for the recipe. so get your kitchens ready and taste buds in gear for some delectible pumpkin goodness! (see link to download a pdf of the recipe at bottom)


Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes

Oven: 350°, for 25 minutes on rack in lower third of oven
Use foil lined baking cups for best results
Makes 1 dozen

Ingredients for the cheesecake filling:
one 8 oz package of cream cheese at room temperature (cannot be light or fat-free)
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 large egg white
½ teaspoon vanilla

Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar for 3 minutes. Add in the egg white and ½ teaspoon vanilla.


Ingredients for the pumpkin filling:
1-1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a small bowl, whisk the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt. In a larger bowl, mix the pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla. Whisk in the flour mixture.


To bake:
Line a 12 cup muffin pan with baking cups. Layer each cup with a little bit of pumpkin batter, cover it with the cream cheese mixture, and then more pumpkin batter. Bake until springy to the touch. Let cool.


Ingredients for the optional frosting:
I suggest for time, cost and it’s a bit healthier - use a can of cream cheese frosting (I think it tastes a bit better too) but if you would like to make brown sugar buttercream frosting you will need the following:
1 cup light brown sugar
4 large egg whites
¼ teaspoon salt
3 sticks of unsalted sweet cream butter cut into tablespoon size pieces & chilled
½ teaspoon vanilla

Fill a medium saucepan with 1" water and get it simmering. Using an electric mixer beat the brown sugar, egg whites and salt. Place the bowl on top of the pot and whisk the mixture until it reads 160° on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from pot and beat at high speed until fluffy. Lower the speed and beat until the mixture is back to room temperature (about 5 minutes). Add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time while at low speed. When finished, beat at high speed for 5 minutes. Lastly beat in the remaining vanilla. Frost cupcakes either using a pastry bag or by hand.


download this recipe from:
http://www.debcardsetc.com/recipes/pumpkincheesecakecupcakes.pdf


best of luck baking and ENJOY! =)

halloween - on the fun, cute & whimsical side

the artfire fun, cute & whimsical guild celebrates halloween!

i love my group of artists. we are all so diverse in our creations but together we make a fabulous window shopping collection for the upcoming holiday! i especially love antisparkle's masked woman t-shirt. such a great idea for someone wanting to be festive without the costume, and it's so wearable for the rest of the year too!

and check it - my turtle halloween party invitations are in the lower left corner! =)

last day to enter!

win a $30 gift certificate to my website or artfire shop when you enter the artfire.com fun, cute & whimsical guild's latest giveaway! go to http://www.fcwguild.com/giveaways.asp to sign up! good luck! =)

almost all black and white

from "fall colors" to "hints of color"... this is my latest "window shopping" showcase creation which can be found on the front page of the artfire.com fun, cute & whimsical guild's website (http://www.fcwguild.com). that's my z is for zebra 5x7 art print in the top left corner!

happy independence day!

i hate to admit it, but i'm guilty of thinking this... cinco de mayo is not mexico's independence celebration. the evening of september 15th is the Grito de Dolores and is followed by the Aniversario de la Independencia on september 16th. this celebration is one of the five fiestas patrias that they observe. so happy independence day, mexico!

♥ ♥ ♥

recently i received a custom order for a mexican jumping bean invitation for a child's second birthday. this was a bit of a challenge as i didn't really know where to begin with it. it took me about 5 versions, both horizontal and vertical before i got to the final design. i am very happy with how it turned out, and my customer really loved it too. i even created matching jumping bean address labels with the middle bean!

i think this design works very well for anyone wanting to celebrate one of the mexican holidays, or anyone who wants a unique theme for a birthday party. so now go get your maracas, put on your sombrero, and let's fiesta! ole! =)

fall colors

recently as i am taking my walks i am starting to notice some of the trees with a handful of leaves starting to change... in no way am i ready for fall (especially in north carolina!), but i love seeing the trees ablaze in rich reds, bright oranges and brilliant yellows.

so why do i mention this? every time there is a new giveaway listed on the website for my artfire guild (www.fcwguild.com - on the 1st & 16th of each month), i change the front page "window shopping" feature to showcase different items from guild members. i have to say this one is one of my favorites i've created so far, and it was inspired by fall colors. check out my little flower pot baby fall invitation in the bottom right corner! =)

this made my day - twice!

last week i received an email from someone who had found my website via a search engine. this is what it said:

Subject: Thank You
Comments: I wish I had found you years ago, I would use you for every occasion! This is some of the cutest stuff I have ever seen! I am placing my order next week for my son's 1st birthday in October. I cannot wait!

i got the order from her this morning for lil pumpkin birthday invitations - one of my biggest sellers. so excited!












♥ ♥ ♥

speaking of cute, check out this week's featured item from ArtFire's Fun, Cute & Whimsical guild - Nellie the Sea Baby Sculpture by BGobbleArt










and if you haven't read it already, check out my blog feature on Britt & her shop!
http://debcardsetc.blogspot.com/2009/05/weekly-handmade-favorite-store-feature.html

cupcakes on the brain

i've had this idea for a skull cupcake for a while but didn't get to actually doing it until this past week. took me about 10 revisions before i got it to the final design, but i can tell you i'm quite happy with it! my original version is the pink cupcake, shown on the apron. once i had that done i was asked if i could do it in halloween colors too, so i modified my original design for my favorite holiday. both designs are only in my cafepress store for now on many apparel and home good items but will be making an appearance on invitations and possibly more things soon.














and while we are on the topic of cupcakes, i've got a few to share made by my fellow FCW Guild members...

a handmade cupcake and cherry stamp by BettieBunnie






the cupcake kids button pack by antisparkle








so now i'm off to possibly find some cupcakes to eat... maybe i should be banned from the grocery store for the time being!

15% off anniversary sale ends today!

don't forget, today is the last day to save 15% on everything at my website! enter code ANNIV2 during checkout to receive your discount!

http://www.debcardsetc.com

happy shopping!

friends & family sale - through facebook!

are you a fan of my facebook page? if so, you're entitled to 25% off everything on my website this weekend. you'll receive a code to enter during checkout in an update friday morning, and its good all the way through sunday night (8/23 11:59 pm EST). so if you're not a fan yet, make sure to become one today! =)